Which scientist provided the scientific foundation explaining Appert's thermal sterilization success?
Louis Pasteur
For decades after Appert's 1810 success, the effectiveness of his sealing and heating process was purely empirical; people knew *that* it worked but not precisely *why* it worked. The scientific explanation for microbial spoilage and fermentation came much later in the mid-19th century through the extensive research conducted by Louis Pasteur. Pasteur’s studies conclusively demonstrated the existence of microorganisms, proving that sufficient heating within an airtight container was effective because it successfully killed these microscopic 'germs' and prevented any new ones from contaminating the food. This scientific validation provided the necessary chemical and biological understanding, transforming the art of preservation into a field grounded in established scientific principles.
